QUALITY FARE AT CLONMEL

Peter Farrell

There were just the nine races on offer last night at Clonmel Greyhound Stadium but the quality certainly shone through with a number of slick performances throughout the card.

The first standout effort on the card came in race three as Da Real Machine produced a magnificent display to land an S2/S3 300-yard race. Owned by the Double-D-And-P-Syndicate, Da Real Machine has just turned two and it’s fair to say his stock well and truly rose with a runaway performance from trap four. Pinging out, the son of Magical Bale and Astro Aoife showed a lovely turn of early acceleration to gallop to the bend in full control. From here, it was all one-way traffic as Da Real Machine stormed up the Suirside straight to cross the line with five lengths in hand over Bionic Blake in second. The time was a scorching 16.21.

In race four, the John Kennedy Motors A2 525, Happy Days Syd dipped under the 29-second barrier on route to a career best display. Owned by William O’Connor, Happy Days Syd was searching for a fourth career win and he made his intentions clear from the off with a polished break from trap one. Railing tightly, the son of Droopys Sydney and Geelo Champers held a narrow advantage down the back from Kilcash Echo but stayed on stoutly up the home straight to emerge a three length winner over said rival. The time for Happy Days Syd was a swift 28.90 .10s.

Slaneyside Ramsy doubled his career win tally in race five for Derek Kehoe. Only an October whelp, the son of Pat C Sabbath and Bricken Brett turned this A4 contest into a procession after taking up the running rounding the opener. Only moderately into stride, his rails berth in one paid dividends as he showed fine early dash to take a three length lead into the back. From here, he drew clear of Billys Blue in second and ran out a facile eight length winner crossing the line. The time was 28.96 .10s.

In the penultimate race of the night, Flashy Farloe produced the fastest time of the night over the standard trip. A classy performer, James Heffernan’s charge landed the Explosive Boy @ Stud A1/A2 final on Produce Stakes night and he duly made it three wins on the spin. A reliable trapper, Flashy Farloe lived up to his name with a flash start from three. In truth, this was all that was required as the son of Skywalker Farloe and Cabra Diva moved brilliantly thereafter to seal a three and a half length victory over Springwood Olivia in second. The time was 28.68 .10s.

Paraic Campion got in on the act in the concluding race of the night as Splendid Fellow ran out a comprehensive winner in the Open 525. Owned by Gary Pepper, Splendid Fellow was a fantastic winner in 28.66 .10s last time out and he bolted from trap three this time around to lead comfortably into the opening bend. One length clear of Subtle Jack rounding the turn, the latter checked which saw the son of Confident Rankin open a sizable gap and he maintained that advantage to cross the line with five lengths in hand over Subtle Jack in second. The time was 28.85 .10s